Tarkowski needed a helping hand —boss

PAUL Dickov felt his senior professionals should have done more to protect young centre-back James Tarkowski at Yeovil.

Turned on his heels on a number of occasions in the second half by the home side at Huish Park, the fatigue brought on by desperately trying to keep up with speedy lone striker Jonathan Obika ultimately displayed itself in the 10-man home team’s late equaliser to Chris Taylor’s excellent first-half goal on the break.

Tarkowski, who was in the side in the absence of injured captain Reuben Hazell, lost control of the ball in the build-up to Andy Welsh’s equalising strike five minutes from the end of normal time.

The dramatic goal secured an unlikely but valuable point for Yeovil, playing with a man less for the final half-hour after Luke Ayling picked up two yellow cards.

But it left Dickov a very frustrated man, especially after a near-faultless effort from his players in the opening period.

“In the first half we were excellent at 1-0 up,” said Dickov. “Then they went down to 10 men and I felt we were sloppy in the second half.

“We told the players at half-time that the only way they were looking to hurt us was by one long ball over the top — so be prepared for it.

“We didn’t not deal with it just once, it was five, six or seven times.

“Young Tarky came in and was magnificent. But his team-mates have got to help him out a little bit more.

“He did tire a bit, but we have seen this season that I look for players to help out the young kids.

“We saw it with Carl Winchester earlier this season when he tired against Exeter and there was nobody there to help.

“And I felt he was let down here by some of his team-mates — not all of them, some were excellent — and they know that, because they have been told.”

Referee Trevor Kettle copped plenty of abuse from the home supporters in the 3,350 crowd throughout the 90 minutes.

And some of his decisions during the game, as well as those of his two assistants, left Dickov venting serious steam at the fourth official Mark Russell.

“Just before (the Yeovil equaliser), we were asking why the linesman wasn’t up with the play, because there were another three or four (decisions) before it.

“I will get myself in trouble if I talk about the officials.

“There were two clear-cut penalties in the first minute — never mind the first half.

“Oumare Tounkara was booked when he was fouled, pushed to the ground and their player tried to take a quick free-kick and kicked it off him.

“It was very poor. But you ask them (the officials) about it and they start laughing.

“They obviously don’t take their careers as seriously as we do.”


Latics’ next game: Good Friday — Exeter City (away), npower League One